While there are many ways to honor and observe a certain planet-minded day in April, we can all agree that most people do so by being outdoors. Some are planting trees, some are joining 5Ks, some are at music festivals, and a lucky few are spending their day with their dogs. (Dogs may not be aware it is Earth Day but they are, of course, earthlings and like living here as much as we do.)

Every week, we'll be featuring a guest post from the travel writers behind Worth the Drive, a blog featuring nearby getaways, festivals, and sweet travel deals on NBC Bay Area.

The recent news from the Monterey Bay Aquarium that Toola, "the most important animal in the aquarium's sea otter program," had died was certainly sad (the 28-year-old otter passed away due to "natural causes and infirmities of age."